| Westwind | |
|---|---|
| Role | Business jet |
| Manufacturer | Israel Aircraft Industries |
| Introduction | 1981 |
| Status | Active service |
| Primary user | Government of Honduras |
The Westwind (Honduran presidential plane) is an Israel Aircraft Industries Westwind business jet used by the Government of Honduras as a presidential plane. It usually seats seven passengers; it can carry up to 10 or be reconfigured as a cargo jet.
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Since its first purchase in 1976 of a Model 1123, the HAF Westwinds have transported the most senior government officials, both civilian and military, to many countries. The airplanes have had 3 color schemes in its history (all white in the 70s, White and Blue in the 80s, and Silver and Blue Metallic currently). The original Westwind was a 1123 model, later replaced by the 1124. Honduras and Panama (which has a Gulfstream IIB are the only Central American countries with presidential jet aircraft.
In the mid-70's, Honduras government bought a package of aircraft from Israel, the first lot of 12 Dassault Super Mystères, and 2 IAI Arava plus the WW-1123. The original Westwind purchase was of an 1123 model in 1975 but had operating limitations flying out of TGU to foreign destinations including Washington, DC, which did not reach with enough fuel to an alternative airport. The 1123 was later changed to a 1124 model which is the one now in service. The Honduran presidential jet is an IAI 1980 built West Wind 1124.
Honduras was the first Central American country to have a presidential aircraft, the first of these was a Beechcraft 17 single engine aircraft supplemented with a Curtiss Condor twin engine transport, which was followed in the late 40's by a Douglas C-47A converted to a VIP passenger transport in the 60s until it was replaced by the IAI Westwind 1123 in 1975 followed by the IAI Westwind 1124 in 1980. But Honduras not only used fix wing aircraft to transport the presidents, it also uses helicopters, a Sikorsky S-76 in the late 70's, followed by a Agusta A109 Power in the late 90s and more recently the Bell 412SP.
The IAI 1124 Westwind HR-PHO has been involved in several controversies. Recent incidents include:
- The government of Honduras was severely criticized as the "West Wind" was used solely to transport the President to Miami to catch a civilian flight to Africa in 2008, costing nearly $25,000.
- In May 2009 the government was also criticized for making a further expenditure of $ 315,000 in repairs to the airplane.[1]
- The Honduran government has also been criticized for making unnecessary use of the airplane in alleged family trips for the president's family and his foreign ministers. This includes a long trip by Patricia Rodas after being named Chancellor of Honduras. Also Zelaya's daughter allegedly used the plane to travel with friends to Colombia to attend a Shakira concert [1][2]
- During the 2009 Honduran coup d'état, President Manuel Zelaya was transported to Costa Rica in the Westwind.
- For being considered as "outdated documents", the authorities of Honduras Air Force burned a document that records the identity of people using the West Wind in 2006, generating a big controversy in Honduran.[2]
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General characteristics
Performance
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